Room: Yangtze 1
Date: Friday, 22 May 2026
Time: 11:30 - 12:45 CEST
Session code 5DO.6
Biogas and hydrogen conversion to fuels
Towards the Commercialization of Decentralized Methanol Production from Biogas
Short Introductive summary
The BioMeSyn project investigates the decentralized production of methanol (MeOH) from biogas through a combined Biogas-to-Synthesis Gas (SynGas)-to-MeOH process. Targeting small- to medium-scale biogas producers utilizing biomass residues, the concept integrates reforming, gas conditioning, and catalytic MeOH synthesis within a modular, container-based system designed for a nominal biogas load of approximately 700 Nm³/h. As biogas-derived SynGas is highly hydrogen-deficient for stoichiometric MeOH synthesis, the process incorporates a power-to-X approach, supplementing electrolytically produced hydrogen for improving make up gas compositions. This allows for nearly complete carbon conversion to MeOH, improving overall resource efficiency and utilization of organic carbon for future application in different industry sectors. Meanwhile, integration of electrolysis for process optimization also introduces substantial new energetic and economic constraints, which are discussed quantitatively in detail. A model-based process analysis provides these quantitative insights into conversion ratios, yields, and kinetic limitations under realistic thermochemical and transport conditions, high
Presenter
Carl FRITSCH
Research Insitute for Water Management and Climate Future at RWTH Aachen, Energy Technologies and Sector Coupling Dpt., GERMANY
Presenter's biography
Born in Berlin, Germany. Studied Mechanical Engineering with Masters in Energy Technologies and Operations Management at RWTH Aachen. Head of Division Energy Technologies and Sector Coupling since early 2025. PhD in technical chemistry/Synthesis Gas Chemistry.
Biographies and Short introductive summaries are supplied directly by presenters and are published here unedited
Co-authors:
L. Hanik, BtX Energy, Bindlach, GERMANY
F. Voit, Research Institute for Water Manegement and Climate Future at RWTH Aachen, GERMANY
B. Bender, OWI Science for Fuels, Herzogenrath, GERMANY
A. Gradel, BtX Energy, Bindlach, GERMANY
F. Yildirim, Research Institute for Water Manegement and Climate Future at RWTH Aachen, GERMANY
Session reference: 5DO.6.2